American-born who adopted the persona of a Chinese master conjurer and was for many years believed to be a 'genuine oriental'. Robinson was a former apprentice mechanic and metal worker, before breaking into the variety theatre circuit as "Robinson, the Man of Mystery". As "Chung Ling Soo", he reached the peak of his popularity in the 1890's and early 1900's. He was killed on stage, shot through a lung, during a bullet catching performance. The cause of the tragedy was put down to a mechanical failure of the rifle used.
